MotoGP postpones Qatar Grand Prix due to Middle East conflict

2026-03-15 - 12:34

The Lusail International Circuit in Qatar was set to host the fourth round of the 2026 championship. (EPA Images pic) MADRID: The Qatar Grand Prix scheduled for next month has been postponed to November due to the conflict in the Middle East, MotoGP announced today. The Lusail International Circuit was set to host the fourth round of the 2026 championship from April 10-12, but it has now been rescheduled for Nov 8, organisers said in a statement. The US-Israeli strikes on Iran have affected countries throughout the Gulf, disrupting travel in some of the world’s busiest transit hubs and forcing several sporting events to be cancelled. “MotoGP confirms that the Qatar Grand Prix, originally scheduled for April, has been postponed to Nov 8 due to the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East,” the statement said. “Following extensive scenario planning and calendar analysis, the revised date has been chosen to ensure minimal disruption to the wider MotoGP schedule.” “The Portuguese Grand Prix will now take place on Nov 22 and the season finale in Valencia will move to Nov 29,” organisers added. Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi leads the championship after the first round in Thailand. The next two races will be held in Brazil (March 20-22) and the US (March 27-29). The conflict has also affected Formula One, with the sport announcing on Saturday races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia would not take place in April.